Caring beyond the operating field: social determinants in surgical Nursing
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.5663Keywords:
Social Determinants of Health, Perioperative Nursing, Perioperative Care, Health EquityAbstract
Highlights
- In Surgical Nursing, understanding social determinants is fundamental to revealing structural inequities and grounding a critical practice that transcends technical care, promoting equity, citizenship, and social justice.
- Analyzing the macro-determinants of health in the surgical context allows for the identification of structural factors associated with inequalities in access and postoperative outcomes, representing a concrete requirement of clinical practice committed to equity.
- A critical approach by nursing in addressing meso-determinants requires interdisciplinary practices, social assessment integrated into clinical care, and collaborative networks between health services, community support, and social protection.
- Micro-determinants reflect vulnerabilities such as food insecurity, restricted access to medication, lack of family support, and inadequate housing, compromising therapeutic adherence and the effectiveness of postoperative rehabilitation.
Introduction: In the surgical setting, social determinants of health directly influence surgical outcomes, from indication to postoperative recovery, reflecting social inequalities that require critical nursing attention. Objective: To reflect, in light of a narrative review, on the influence of social determinants of health on surgical outcomes and their implications for perioperative Nursing. Content Synthesis: This is a theoretical-reflective essay grounded in a structured narrative review conducted in the PubMed database between April and June 2025. Twenty-six articles were included. The analysis was carried out through an integrative thematic synthesis organized according to the Dahlgren and Whitehead model. The findings indicate that incorporating social determinants broadens the scope of nursing practice across different levels. At the macro level, it involves political and institutional engagement, participation in policy formulation, and equitable resource management. Regarding mesodeterminants, expanded social assessment, individualized care planning, articulation with community networks, and culturally sensitive health education stand out. At the micro level, individualized clinical assessment, psychosocial support, humanized care, postoperative planning, and the use of technologies to support continuity of care are included. This approach strengthens comprehensiveness and social justice within the surgical context. Conclusions: Integrating social determinants of health into Nursing practice in the surgical setting strengthens patient safety, improves quality of care, and contributes to reducing health inequities.
How to cite this article: Ferreira, José Erivelton de Souza Maciel; Siqueira, Larissa Rodrigues; Carpino, Aneline Mesquita Sales; Júnior, Francisco Edilson Andrade Almeida; Teles, Rian Brito; Rebouças, Marcelo Bruno Almeida. Caring beyond the operating field: social determinants in surgical nursing. Revista Cuidarte. 2026;17(2):e5663. https://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.5663
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